Dimensions. Wing, 2.94; tail, 2.73; culmen, .43.
Habitat. Western North America, east to Dakota, north to Arctic Ocean: Alaska?
The specimen above described differs widely from its nearest approaches among my eastern examples. The ground-color of the back is decidedly paler, bringing out the dark streaks in sharper contrast, which is heightened by the absence of their usual chestnut edging; the ash of the throat and sides of the head is much fainter, and in many places replaced by brownish-fulvous; the under parts, especially the sides and abdomen, are more strongly ochraceous; and the broad, ashy crown-patch gives the head a very different appearance.
Upon testing these characters by comparison with the extensive material in the National Museum, I find the different ground-color and markings of the back to be constant in western birds, while the ochraceous tint of the throat and sides of the head, although most conspicuous in fall and winter specimens, is also a good distinction; the ashy hood is apparently confined to autumnal birds, and with these is variable in extent, as well as sometimes wanting; but as it never occurs in eastern examples it is not wholly lacking in diagnostic value.
A comparison of measurements taken from a large number of specimens of both races shows little average difference in size, although the western birds usually have smaller and narrower bills.
18. Melospiza fasciata guttata (Nutt.) Ridgw. Rusty Song Sparrow.—The thirteen Song Sparrows sent me from Fort Walla Walla represent a form very nearly intermediate between fallax and guttata. Most of these specimens are decidedly browner above and more heavily streaked beneath than true fallax; but on the other hand none of them are as dark as typical guttata, although several closely approach that form. One of the lighter examples is even grayer than a Utah skin, and, taken by itself would necessarily be referable to fallax. But the series as a whole may perhaps best be referred to guttata.
25. Cyanocitta stelleri annectens (Baird) Ridgw. Black-headed Jay.—An interesting series of Jays collected by Capt. Bendire includes five typical representatives of annectens, two nearly typical stelleri and four birds about intermediate between these forms. The differential characteristics of the three styles may be briefly given as follows: The first-named has a well-defined and conspicuous patch of white over the eye; the second entirely lacks this marking; the third has it merely indicated by a narrow gray line. In all, the crest is glossy black; the rest of the head, with the breast anteriorly, plumbeous-black; the back plumbeous-brown; and the throat streaked with bluish-white. All have the head above more or less streaked with blue, but the shade and extent of this marking bear no apparent relation to the presence or absence of the white patch over the eyes. Thus examples of each style have the forehead and crown, to a point half an inch behind the eye, thickly marked with blue or bluish-white, while with all there is a more or less complete gradation from this pattern to one in which a few pale streaks are confined to the forehead. Similarly, the greater wing-coverts are distinctly barred with black, faintly crossed with fine dark lines, or entirely immaculate, without regard to the character of the features already mentioned.
The above evidence clearly goes to show that annectens grades directly into stelleri; but it does not necessarily preclude the recognition of the former as a well-defined geographical race, for the locality under consideration abounds in similarly intermediate forms.
33. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.) Newton. Short-eared Owl.—A female, taken Oct 7, has the ground-color of the plumage, both above and beneath, rich, almost rusty, ochraceous; the markings, also, are unusually dark and broad. Three males represent the other extreme, their coloring, especially beneath, being remarkably pale and almost free from any ochraceous tinge.
36. Bubo virginianus saturatus[[111]] Ridgw. Dusky Horned Owl.—During the autumn of 1881 Great Horned Owls were unusually abundant about Fort Walla Walla, and Capt. Bendire secured no less than fourteen specimens, of which twelve are now before me. In a general way these are referable as follows: eight to saturatus, two to subarcticus, and two to a form apparently about intermediate between these races. Five of the representatives of saturatus are typical, while the remaining three grade into the intermediate form which, in turn, approaches one of the light specimens referred to subarcticus. The latter example is not typical, but its companion differs from an Arizona skin only in having slightly darker dorsal markings and a little stronger rufous cast about the face and across the breast, the color and markings elsewhere being essentially the same.